Australia can stretch its lead at top of LG ICC ODI Championship

Australia can put more distance between it and second-placed South Africa if it beats Graeme Smith's side in Wednesday's semi-final of the ICC Cricket World Cup in St Lucia.

Currently, Australia is four ratings points ahead of the Proteas at the top of the LG ICC ODI Championship and a win on Wednesday will increase that to six as it moves up to 130 and South Africa slips to 124.

However, if South Africa is victorious the gap will shrink to three points with the final to come in Barbados on 28 April.

South Africa was recently deposed at the top of the ODI Championship after a brief but significant period at the top. The Proteas were ranked number one at the annual cut-off date of 1 April thus winning the US$175,000 prize. Australia won US$75,000 for coming second and then rapidly returned to the top as it maintained its 100 per cent record in the ICC Cricket World Cup so far.

The LG ICC ODI Championship is clearly a good indicator of current form with the top four all making it through to the semi-final stage of the tournament.

New Zealand and Sri Lanka will fight it out in the other semi-final at Sabina Park, Jamaica. If fourth-placed Sri Lanka can overcome the Black Caps and then win the final on 28 April it will have the added bonus of moving up a place in the ladder.

Currently, Mahela Jayawardene's team is a fraction of a point ahead of Pakistan with India and England close behind. Following its defeat to England in the Super Eight on Saturday, the West Indies has dropped to 99 points in eighth position.

Bangladesh is ninth and newcomers Ireland have entered the ODI Championship in tenth position, ahead of Zimbabwe and Kenya.